Thrilling Victory for Germany's Daughters of Basketball: Nowitzki's Birthday Gift
Celebratory shouts from Nowitzki signal encouraging debut for DBB women in EM competition
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Say hello to an electrifying beginning for Germany's women's basketball team at their home European Championship! They united in a victorious dance with Sweden, ensuring a promising journey ahead in the fight for the EM quarterfinals. The crowd at a sold-out Inselpark Arena in Hamburg roared in jubilation as Dirk Nowitzki, the birthday boy, graced the occasion.
A resounding 89:76 victory (44:27) in their opening match set the tone for a made-to-measure birthday gift for Dirk Nowitzki. Led by the remarkable performance of Leonie Fiebich (16 points), the team's glittering showing left spectators buzzing and yearning for more, despite a nail-biting fourth quarter that narrowed the initial 18-point lead.
Rising Stars on the Prowl
Luisa Geiselsöder, the leading German scorer in the game with a whopping 20 points, spearheaded the triumphant advance. Despite the temporary absence of three heavyweight players - Satou Sabally (focus on WNBA), Nyara Sabally (knee issues), and captain Marie Gülich (ACL tear) - the team's impressive roster thrived. Players such as the agile Alexis Peterson, the precocious Frieda Bühner, and the dynamic Emily Bessoir left lasting impressions.
Though their absence was felt slightly in the third quarter when Sweden staged a comeback and narrowed the lead to just six points (53:47), Fiebich's late-game heroics prevented the Swedish resurgence.
European Dream-Chasers
After reaching the quarterfinals at the Olympics in Paris and winning the sensational 3x3 gold medal, Germany's women's basketball is on the rise - and Fiebich, the WNBA champion, and her teammates are determined to continue this upward spiral at the EM. Their next opponents in Group D are Vice-European Champion Spain on Friday (20:00) and Britain on Sunday (18:00, both on MagentaSport). Spain, a formidable powerhouse, bested the British underdog 85:70 in their inaugural match. The top two teams in the group will advance to the quarterfinals, set in the bustling Greek port of Piraeus.
Sources: ntv.de, tno/sid
As hosts, Germany has ensured a guaranteed spot in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026. Additionally, their performance at EuroBasket 2025 will significantly impact their qualification for the World Cup Qualifying Tournaments, which take place in March 2026.[1]
The upcoming opponents in the group stage include Great Britain, Spain, and Sweden.[2]
Sports enthusiasts should keep an eye on Germany's women's basketball team in the WNBA and NBA, as they continue their European championship journey. Luisa Geiselsöder, a rising star in the sport, led Germany to a thrilling win over Sweden in their opening match, despite the absence of key players like Satou Sabally and Marie Gülich. With Fiebich's heroics and the impressive performances of players like Alexis Peterson, Frieda Bühner, and Emily Bessoir, Germany looks poised to challenge formidable opponents such as Spain in the group stage.
